94 W124 Radiator question
 

My 94 E320 recently had to have the radiator replaced. However since then I found myself in another mechanics garage due to a relay that is causing my car not to start. Well the new mechanic told me that the rad in the car could not possibly be new. It has all the Behr tags on it but the core is black not aluminum in color. He claims it may have been painted to look new and this is what also caused the fan clutch to go.

Before the rad blew my car effectively between the 80 and 100...now it runs over 100 and the auxiliary fans are constantly coming on. The first mechanic that did the radiator claims it is new and under warranty. I asked for paperwork and he mentioned he need to pull it as it was last month and it had been filed.

Does anyone know if a Behr would come with a black core? If not what re-course do I have?